Edward Hernandez's story on contracting AIDS

Edward Hernandez asked for an AIDS test in 1994 when he started feeling tired, experiencing low sex drive and noticed ringworm-like rashes on his back.

The test confirmed his worse nightmare. He was diagnosed with HIV.

Hernandez's brother died of AIDS-related complications in 1995 and four years later, a cousin died of the disease. His brother's wife now has AIDS.

AIDS and HIV, Hernandez said, has devastated his family. Several of his nieces and nephews are HIV-positive.

"My family, they're affected by it, it's not really a choice," said Hernandez, 49, who lives in Rome. "It's a way of life."

Hernandez, who was a heroin addict, said he believes he got HIV from sharing drug needles with his family and friends. He believes most of his family members who are HIV-positive contracted it through drugs or sex.

When family members started getting sick, Hernandez became concerned because he shared intravenous needles with them.family members.

After he was diagnosed with HIV, Hernandez connected with AIDS Community Resources, a Syracuse-based agency, which found him housing, medical help and took him to medical appointments.

Hernandez said he has given up drugs and alcohol and now focuses on living a healthy life.

"I had been living a reckless life, you don't go to clinics, hospitals, see doctors," he said. "Everything was self-medicating. So that's how I went about my life."

Hernandez said he stopped working because his is sick all the time. He spends most of his time educating people about the disease and teaching them how to prevent it. He lives with his girlfriend, Sherry, of 10 years. She's HIV-negative.